Monthly Archives: November 2011

So I’ve posted on Twitter about reading Harry Potter to Ara but I don’t think I’ve talked about it here. Alex and I are reading the first book with her every night and it’s been interesting. At first I would just read a chapter and then kiss her good night but when I started asking her questions I realized she was missing a lot of the important plot points. Not on purpose of course, when we read the story she sits so still and is clearly hanging on every word. But, some of the story is going over her head. So now I do a shorter section of book and we have a recap/discussion time. Which I am really loving. Today, for example we talked about the Mirror of Erised that she read with her Dad last night. She remembered that Harry had seen dead people and Ron had seen a ‘Head Boy”. So we discussed why Harry would want to see his family more than anything in the world and why Ron needed to feel special. She really seemed to get it so I asked her what she would see if she looked into the mirror. She would see her favorite stuffed cat “Wila” come to life. I love that answer. It’s so child-like and so honest. In my thoughts I wondered if what I would see would be me, reading this story aloud with my daughter tucked under my arm. Because in this moment, right now, that’s what I desire most in the world. To share this story, these characters, this experience with Ara is truly a dream come true for me.

I realize that may sound hokey to some people. It’s just a kid’s story about wizards after all. But, to some people this story is about so much more than that. So much more than anyone can possible understand from just seeing the movie. This is a story about the power of love and especially the powerful love of a Mother. It’s also a story that shows my daughter several strong female characters that do not compromise themselves to please others. Ara can read about the adventures of plain girls that are smart and clever and brave. There are no princesses here. Ravishing beauty and skinny thighs do not win the battles. I like that message, sorry Cinderella, you can’t eat my daughter!

Oh, and one more really serious reason I like sharing Harry Potter with Ara is that we can now make jokes like this one today;

I found this funny and since the mildly entertaining post I wrote about bentos’ refuses to upload itself I’ll share this! You should also know I’ve become obsessed with the first book in the Hunger Games. I’m waiting impatiently to read the second book and dying to talk to someone about it! Also, I’ve been really grumpy yesterday and today. See ya!

I have a sore throat tonight and an achy body, and even though I’ve railed at the universe about this injustice I guess I need to call ‘uncle’ and go lay down. I sort of re-hurt my ‘wounds’ by picking something too heavy up and I’ve been trying to clean this house. The image of trying to stop water from flowing down hill has come to mind while I fight to slowly pick up all the toys and art supplies that constantly march themselves out of Ara’s room. And the dishes that fill the sink. And the laundry that piles up. Ugh, I’m in a foul mood, I’m sending myself to bed. I may yell at the neighbor kids first though.. it’s almost 9pm and by the sound of it they are constructing a metal rocket ship in the street and the poor things are slightly deaf so they need to shout instructions at each other while their creation loudly clanks to the ground. Repeatedly. Don’t these kids have school tomorrow? Or parents? Or the decency to know that I don’t feel good?!